Children learn best through repetition and stories they can relate to. The intent of this book is to create relatable situations and "character friends" for your child. Mental health issues can be overwhelming and too often the society we live in shames those whom it affects. As a father, and as a professional in the field of mental health, it is my goal to help children learn coping skills. Last year on a family fishing trip I witnessed my nephew have a severe panic attack, and by teaching him a box breathing technique he was able to settle down. After that experience, I jumped online to see what resources were available for children with anxiety and I wasn't impressed with what I found. As a father, my favorite moments to teach are through bedtime stories and that is what I have created here. Through this story, your child will be introduced to a young child by the name of Jack who is faced with true to life situations that cause him to feel anxiety.
In the introduction a young boy has feelings of his heart beating like a drum, breathing really fast, and then starting to cry. He doesn't understand why it is happening, and his parents step in to help him recognize what he is feeling anxiety. As the book progresses the child is exposed to real-life situations that cause him anxiety and then taught a well established and proven deep breathing exercise to help ground him. At the end of the book, the young boy recognizes anxiety in a classmate and helps her to learn the same coping skills he has been taught, and then they become friends through their common bond.